For many of us, walking into a gym can be intimidating, but owners Gladys Santiago and Emily Stork have worked to create an open, accessible environment at their gym. From the outside, WTF looks like any other boutique neighborhood business — especially today, with the shades down to lessen the"fishbowl" experience for clients working out inside.The first thing you notice upon entering the space is that it is spotless, a point of great pride and intention for Santiago.
We sat down with the married co-founders of this queer/BIPOC/women-owned small business, who moved to Denver three years ago from New York. Santiago was in marketing and Stork was a lawyer, and both have given up those jobs to build this business together, which opened in February 2022.Worth the Fight is a boxing fitness studio that appeals to beginners and more experienced athletes alike. We aim to be inclusive, to offer a fun, empowering workout that inspires people to come back.
Finally I found a workout that I didn’t feel bored doing, it wasn’t a chore, it's something I could progress at, a skill I was building on. When we moved here, my career didn’t exist here, so this business was a way to create something for ourselves and still share my passion with other people. Denver is very fitness-focused, and this type of studio didn’t exist. There is not a ton of boxing in Denver, and really not much for fitness boxing.
When people come in, the bags are intimidating, but someone will give a tour, and if they don’t have equipment, we’ll rent them gloves, show them how to wrap their hands. Our coaches are so wonderful. They identify goals with the client. Each class has a different theme, and we explain the format of the classes. Six rounds of boxing, three minutes each; in between is a one-minute active recovery. But within the rounds, we add to the combo; each time we build on it.